Posts Tagged ‘technology & social media’

What is Sexy Codicology? An independent project that aims to expand interest and awareness of medieval illuminated manuscripts to the widest audience possible through social media. They discover and explore digitized special collections around the world, hunting for beautiful illuminated manuscripts which they share on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr and Pinterest as well as their blog Sexy Codicology. They have also developed Maps of Digitized Medieval Manuscripts Available Online and Codicologywhere they explain the basics of the various types of manuscripts. And they have developed a manuscript app — the DMMapp — that links to more than 500 libraries in the world from which users can browse digitized manuscripts. DMMapp is open source and always looking for contributions in its development as well as additional library collections for new content.

In a new game created byAtelier Games, you can be Lissitzky’s Bolshevik red wedge defeating the white circle. Lissitzky’s Revenge is based on El Lissitzky’s iconic 1919 Suprematist work “Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge.” Creator Chris Totten, Game Artists in Residence at American University, and Atelier Games aim to “create unique art-based games, explore the viability of utilizing non-digital media for game art production, and introducing game art and development as a creative possibility for non-traditional audiences.” They are currently researching future games based on René Magritte and the Ashcan School.

The landmark Pazzi Chapel in Florence is in urgent need of restoration. In an attempt to raise funding needed to carry out this restoration project — repairing the crumbling grey sandstone used on the facade, columns and sculpted decorations — the Opera di Santa Croce has established a Kickstarter project with the goal of reaching at least $95,000 by December 19. Donations range from $10 to $1000 or more. A pledge of $10 or more gets donors a thank you in the historical archive while a pledge of $1000 provides donors with a private tour of the restoration, the unveiling of the restored chapel, a thank you tweet, a lithograph and medal.

The Museum of Modern Art has developed a new app for iOS devices. Features include museum and art tours with artists and curators, “My Collections” — a tool enabling users to create collections of favorite media and images, a calendar for browsing exhibitions, events and film screenings, museums directories and maps and the ability to share via email, Facebook or Twitter your favorite art, events or photos.

To learn more about this free app, you can read more on MoMA’s FAQ page. The MoMA iPhone App is available in the iTunes App Store.

MAN (Modern Art Notes) podcasts is a weekly podcast featuring artists, curators, art historians and authors produced and hosted by Tyler Green and Modern Art Notes Media. Every week they spotlight a new topic presented by an art historian, curator, artist, or author. This week’s podcast tells the story of how the Detroit Institute of Art’s curator Salvador Salort-Pons spotted The Infant St. John the Baptist by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, and how he and a team at the DIA helped bring it back to life. The story will be told with the assistance of Salort-Pons, art historian Jonathan Brown, Meadow Brook curator Madelyn Rzadkowolski, DIA conservator Alfred Ackerman and Oakland sophomore Holly Lustig.

The travel company Historvius has just released a new iPad app that allows users to explore Roman ruins without leaving the comfort of home. Sure, it would be nice to explore Rome’s ruins from Rome but sometimes that’s just not possible. If you can’t get to Rome in person, Roman Ruins HD makes it possible for you to explore over 100 Roman sites through 1500 plus images and Google street view. Roman Ruins can be browsed by site name, country, period, a map or by curated galleries and collections.

Early this month, the Smithsonian Channel released a free app that allows viewers to explore their extensive video collection. Users can watch short clips to long documentaries on topics ranging from conservation work at the Smithsonian to dinosaurs. The app includes a feature called Story Space where viewers can find subjects that interest them and then create their own channels based on these topics. Requirements: iOS 4.3 or later

Another interesting app is Art Swipe. This app was developed by LACMA and released in connection with their exhibition “In Wonderland.” The free app for iPad and iPhones allows users to mash-up details from the exhibition to create a digital composite or collage inspired by the works viewed at LACMA. Artist Jody Zellen designed the app with the surrealist game “exquisite corpse” in mind. To read more about Art Swipe and what inspired Zellen, go to LACMA’s blog UNFRAMED.

Mixel is a social art-making tool and “game-changing” app according to Hrag Vartanian of the Hyperallergic blog. Hrag loved its attractive packaging, its simplicity and how social it was. On the other hand, he was concerned about the potential privacy and copyright issues. Click the here to read his complete review.

AS IT IS AGAIN, by Artist JoAnn Verburg, is perhaps the first artist’s book designed to be experienced on an iPad. Requirements: iOS 4.3 or later.

Still in beta, Clibe is an app that allows iPad users to create digital journals in the cloud. Journals can easily be published from the iPad and added to the Clibe library. The Clibe library can be browsed and subscribers can post their additions and request feedback and comments from other subscribers.

Today’s museums are enthusiastic exploiters of social media. Museums, employing new technology in their effort to engage and attract the public, are turning museums into “virtual community centers.” Facebook, podcasts, iPhone apps and YouTube are enabling museums to present information in creative ways and to reinvent themselves. Here are just a few successful examples:

YouTube Play: Created by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum last summer, YouTube Play allowed anyone with a video camera, a computer and a little time to submit a video to its art Biennial. The Guggenheim received a stunning 23,358 submissions from 91 countries. More than 24 million viewers watched the Biennial on YouTube and at the museum. YouTube and the Gugenheim are holding discussions about the next Biennial.

ArtBabble: A web site started by the Indianapolis Art Museum, ArtBabble offers viewers videos (most in high-definition) from institutions around the world. During its initial phase, the Indianapolis Art Museum asked a 6 institutions to participate, including the New York Public Library, SF MOMA, LACMA and the Smithsonian. ArtBabble now has 30 museum participants. Each video is accompanied by notes offering links to related material such as artist interviews. (New York Times, “ArtBabble Site Opens Window to World of Museums”)

Podcasts: Many museums are utilizing audio programs and podcasts to support online visitors. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art developed “SFMOMA Artcasts” available on topics ranging from current and past exhibitions, interviews with artists, collectors and curators, and discussions about the formation of the collection.